By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minotauros continued their push for the playoffs with a split with the Minnesota Magicians keeping pace with the Bismarck Bobcats for the top spot in the NAHL Central. The Tauros bounced back from a loss on Friday with a win on Saturday to earn the split setting up a high-stakes matchup with the Bobcats on Thursday night at the Maysa.
Friday night (box score) Grayson Gavin (6g 10a) opened the scoring in the middle of the first (highlight) but the Magicians bounced back to take a 3-1 lead before the end of the opening frame. The Tauros drew even late in the second when Derek Frentz (16g 21a) (highlight) and Colton Berg (4g 5a) (highlight) scored power play goals less than two minutes apart so make it 3-3 headed into the third. Derek Olmschenk (1g 1a) scored his first goal of the season (highlight) early in the third to put the Magicians ahead. Then Pierce Crawford (16g 22a) scored his second goal of the night (highlight) to push the final score to 5-3.
Saturday night (box score) the Tauros again opened the scoring in the first when Austin Martinsen (17g 11a) ripped a shot from the left circle on the power play (highlight). Jack Christiansen (12g 8a) drew the Magicians even in the middle of the period (highlight) on a bouncing puck in front. The Magicians took a 2-1 lead early in the second when John Peterson (7g 11a) scored on a deflection in front (highlight) early in the second. Less than two minutes after the Magicians took the lead James LaDouce (10g 22a) drew the Tauros even (highlight) with a blast off of a faceoff win by Troy Degler (6g 16a). Chase Springman (13g 20a) then put the Tauros ahead in the final minute of the second (highlight) on a shot from the slot. Degler picked up his third assist of the weekend on Springman’s goal.
Next up for the Tauros is the final regular season matchup of the regular season for the Tauros and the Bobcats. The winner will hold the lead for the Central division. Tickets for Thursday’s game are available by clicking the “Tickets” tab atop this page.